NHL Picks: Wild keep rolling with Stadium Series win over Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are about to take part of their 4th outdoor game which they really haven’t thrived in going 1-2 including a tough loss last year on New Year’s Day when Troy Brouwer scored in the final 20 seconds to defeat the Blackhawks.

Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo. Pominville has six points in four games since Yeo was sacked and Torchetti was hired.

During the actual game, Ciccarelli and the Wild/North Stars alumni team won the day. This afternoon the Blackhawks and Wild embrace the elements at TCF Bank Stadium. The Wild were knocked out of the playoffs the past three years by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Wild and Blackhawks will face off in the Stadium Series Game Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on KARE 11. Perhaps most of all he’s been vocal during the games by being constantly in the ears of the players while they are on the bench letting the players know he’s in the game and ready to let them know how to make the next shift better.

Patrick Maroon put the Ducks ahead in the first period and that lead was doubled in the second by Ryan Kesler, before Mark Giordano struck back for the Flames on the power play. That was coach Joel Quenneville’s assessment of this one, and the Blackhawks will have plenty of time to do that this week.

The former All-American has played in the team’s last four games after being called up from the AHL. I wouldn’t be shocked if Rozy got a one game benching from the National Hockey League, though, given the fact that he was ejected from the game.

Though the Blackhawks have the most standings points in the Western Conference, they’ve had a few of these clunkers this season.

“Pominville’s scored before, Vanek has scored before”, Torchetti said.

“It’s been a roller coaster for sure, from losing to Boston to [Yeo] getting let go, to Torch coming in, and us winning three on the road, and then coming home and having this big stage”, defenseman Ryan Suter said.

Kris Letang was probably the real standout, racking up three assists. “Today was another one of those days I waited till the game was over to have a good look around”. While the offense dried up, the team’s veteran leaders weren’t shy about how the operation was being run as Minnesota cannonballed toward a head start on the off-season.

“I think Torch has definitely stepped in and kind of gave us freedom to make more plays offensively and came in with new ideas and created a spark for our team”, he said.

“During the game, you don’t get a chance to look around and realize the atmosphere and the size of the stadium that you’re in”, Dubnyk said.

Minnesota is starting to close the gap in the wild card race.

Over 50,000 fans are expected to attend the the game, and a decent amount should be Blackhawk fans. It was the host venue when the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers won a 1-0 game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 17, 2014. They’re also scoring a ton of goals. The 6-4, 231-pound Matthias won’t be with Colorado when the team plays Sunday night in Vancouver.